In Cutrofiano, in Piazza Municipio, there is a small and fantastic museum that celebrates ceramics, which in the town is a tradition as old as its name. It seems that Cutrofiano comes from the Greek word khytra, which means vase.
The museum houses ceramic artefacts of all types and a path that explains the processing of clay in different historical periods, from antiquity to the last century.
In the first room there is a fun collection of ceramic whistles. While in the second there are the work tools of a typical workshop of the last century.
Continuing through the museum rooms, one encounters seemingly extravagant objects, yet ones that were in common use only half a century ago.
Iron and wood lathe
For example a watering can, the many holes in the ceramic make it perfect for watering plants, while from above you can regulate the water pressure. Simply fantastic.
Then we meet the typical ceramic vases, such as the piretto, then we meet the typical ceramic vases, such as the piretto, because it is pear-shaped, and the vombilone, a strange object that was used to extract salt from sea water, when necessary it was dismantled and suddenly a normal vase appeared. Ancient tricks to elude the rigid rules of the State monopoly.
In the last room there is a collection of Messapian ceramic artefacts, followed by Roman, medieval and eighteenth-nineteenth century artefacts.
The museum website offers opening and closing information, and updates for a visit dedicated to the knowledge and rediscovery of old crafts.
Olio d'Oliva E.V. 100 cl
Hot Pepper Taralli
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